MANILA, Philippines – Magnolia locked down San Miguel with a gritty 88-80 win in Game 3 of the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals, snapping the Beermen’s franchise-best-tying 11-game winning streak on Wednesday, February 7, at the Araneta Coliseum.

Mark Barroca, one of the Hotshots’ most consistent players of the conference and the finals, kept up his stellar play with a team-high 20 points on 10-of-21 shooting, plus 6 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals.

Paul Lee backstopped with 12 points off the bench – his first double-digit scoring game of these finals – while import Tyler Bey, reserve Aris Dionisio, and big man Ian Sangalang scored 11 apiece.

San Miguel super reinforcement Bennie Boatwright dropped game-highs of 27 points and 13 rebounds, but labored all night long with a 10-of-28 clip to go with 8 turnovers.

Best Player of the Conference candidate CJ Perez added 16 points, while Jeron Teng recorded his first double-digit scoring game for the Beermen with 10.

Fourth quarter

STREAK BUSTED!

JUST IN. Magnolia trims its deficit in the PBA Commissioner's Cup finals to 1-2 and snaps San Miguel's 11-game winning streak with a gritty 88-80 win in Game 3. #PBAFinals GAME 3 HIGHLIGHTS: https://t.co/CueEGMpxWP pic.twitter.com/Sb0cEzei7O

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) February 7, 2024

• FINAL: Magnolia extends the series with its first win against San Miguel, 88-80, snapping an 11-game winning streak
• MAGNOLIA 88-80: Bennie Boatwright with a late three
• MAGNOLIA 88-77: Mark Barroca hits the 20-point mark
• MAGNOLIA 86-77: June Mar Fajardo hits from mid-range
• MAGNOLIA 86-75: Paul Lee banks in a floater
• MAGNOLIA 84-75: Bennie Boatwright adds two more
• MAGNOLIA 84-73: Tyler Bey finally hits double-digit scoring, Bennie Boatwright responds from deep
• MAGNOLIA 82-70: June Mar Fajardo goes 1/2 from the stripe
• MAGNOLIA 82-69: Bennie Boatwright splits from the line
• MAGNOLIA 82-68: Rome dela Rosa scores a floater
• MAGNOLIA 80-68: Marcio Lassiter floats in for two
• MAGNOLIA 80-66: A laboring Bennie Boatwright scores inside
• MAGNOLIA 80-64: Paul Lee finds Ian Sangalang inside for two, resets biggest lead at 16
• MAGNOLIA 78-64: Bennie Boatwright and Ian Sangalang trade quick twos
• MAGNOLIA 76-62: Paul Lee hits one from way downtown for Magnolia’s biggest lead at 14
• MAGNOLIA 73-62: Aris Dionisio hits back-to-back treys
• MAGNOLIA 70-62: Aris Dionisio adds three more. Timeout San Miguel with 9:08 in regulation
• MAGNOLIA 67-62: Mark Barroca on fire, tallies his 18th point
• MAGNOLIA 65-62: Don Trollano scores two free throws
• MAGNOLIA 65-60: Mark Barroca scores two more off a jumper
• MAGNOLIA 63-60: CJ Perez slams one down on Jio Jalalon, but tweaks his left foot upon landing. He brushes it off and play continues

Third quarter

PBA | END OF 3RD:

Magnolia hangs on to a 63-58 lead with a quarter left to play.

Another loss will put the Hotshots on the verge of a sweep. #PBAFinals

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) February 7, 2024

• END OF THE THIRD QUARTER: Magnolia keeps San Miguel at bay with impressive defense, 63-58
• MAGNOLIA 63-58: Rodney Brondial splits from the line
• MAGNOLIA 63-57: Paul Lee with a high-banking layup
• MAGNOLIA 61-57: Tyler Bey layup, Bennie Boatwright goes 2/2 from the line
• MAGNOLIA 59-55: Rodney Brondial converts a fastbreak layup
• MAGNOLIA 59-53: Calvin Abueva sinks two, plus the foul, but misses the bonus
• MAGNOLIA 57-53: San Miguel inches closer anew with a Bennie Boatwright two
• MAGNOLIA 57-51: Jeron Teng adds two more from the line to reach double-digit points.
• MAGNOLIA 57-49: Paul Lee finds a cutting Tyler Bey for the emphatic jam. Timeout San Miguel with 2:48 left.
• MAGNOLIA 55-49: Jeron Teng breaks away for two
• MAGNOLIA 55-47: June Mar Fajardo sinks a free throw after missing 3 straight
• MAGNOLIA 55-46: Ian Sangalang splits from the line
• MAGNOLIA 54-46: Mark Barroca scores yet another floater after some sorry San Miguel misses
• MAGNOLIA 52-46: Rome dela Rosa responds quickly inside
• MAGNOLIA 50-46: Chris Ross scores his first two
• MAGNOLIA 50-44: CJ Perez drives inside for two
• MAGNOLIA 50-42: June Mar Fajardo, Jio Jalalon split from the line
• MAGNOLIA 49-41: Jio Jalalon adds two more inside
• MAGNOLIA 47-41: Jio Jalalon swings to an open Rome dela Rosa for three
• MAGNOLIA 44-41: CJ Perez scores two free throws
• MAGNOLIA 44-39: Mark Barroca opens the second half with another floater

Halftime performers

• Mark Barroca (MAGNOLIA) – 10 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
• Jio Jalalon (MAGNOLIA) – 7 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
• Tyler Bey, Paul Lee, Aris Dionisio (MAGNOLIA) – 5 points, 3 rebounds each
  
• Bennie Boatwright (SAN MIGUEL) – 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals
• CJ Perez (SAN MIGUEL) – 10 points, 2/4 3PT, 3 rebounds
• June Mar Fajardo (SAN MIGUEL) – 6 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks

Second quarter

PBA | HALFTIME:

Magnolia enters the break with a slim 42-39 lead.

Mark Barroca with 10 points for the Hotshots, while Bennie Boatwright and CJ Perez also have 10 points each for San Miguel.

This marks the first time in the finals that Magnolia leads at halftime.#PBAFinals

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) February 7, 2024

• HALFTIME: San Miguel nearly erases a 13-point deficit as Magnolia hangs on, 42-39
• MAGNOLIA 42-39: Jio Jalalon splits from the line
• MAGNOLIA 41-39: Marcio Lassiter finds Bennie Boatwright inside for two
• MAGNOLIA 41-37: CJ Perez drills a three
• MAGNOLIA 41-34: Mark Barroca stays hot, sinks another floater, but misses the bonus
• MAGNOLIA 39-34: June Mar Fajardo tips in CJ Perez’s miss
• MAGNOLIA 39-32: Timely June Mar Fajardo screen opens Bennie Boatwright for three
• MAGNOLIA 39-29: Jio Jalalon drives inside and hits
• MAGNOLIA 37-29: Ian Sangalang easy layup from a Jio Jalalon bounce pass
• MAGNOLIA 35-29: Aris Dionisio quick three. Jeron Teng for two.
• MAGNOLIA 32-27: Don Trollano sinks one from downtown. 10-2 San Miguel run.
• MAGNOLIA 32-24: Ian Sangalang takes it inside for two
• MAGNOLIA 30-24: Jeron Teng with a wide-open mid-range shot. 7-0 San Miguel run.
• MAGNOLIA 30-22: Jeron Teng goes 2/2 from the line
• MAGNOLIA 30-20: Bennie Boatwright with a quick response three
• MAGNOLIA 30-17: Calvin Abueva takes it coast to coast for the layup. Biggest Magnolia lead so far at 13.
• MAGNOLIA 28-17: Jio Jalalon intercepts Jeron Teng’s pass and scores. Timeout San Miguel with 9:39 left.
• MAGNOLIA 26-17: Calvin Abueva sinks his first two from the line
• MAGNOLIA 24-17: Don Trollano sinks a smooth turnaround jumper

First quarter

PBA | 1ST QUARTER:

What a quarter for Magnolia as it leads 24-15 behind the efforts of Mark Barroca, Paul Lee, and Tyler Bey.

Barroca leads all scorers with 8 points, while Lee and Bey have 5 points apiece.#PBAFinals

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) February 7, 2024

• END OF THE FIRST QUARTER: Aris Dionisio sinks a last-second putback as Magnolia mounts a 24-15 lead over San Miguel
• MAGNOLIA 22-15: Friendly fire – James Laput accidentally elbows Tyler Bey’s jaw
• MAGNOLIA 22-15: Tyler Bey fires an outlet pass to Paul Lee for the layup
• MAGNOLIA 20-15: Marcio Lassiter with a breakaway layup
• MAGNOLIA 20-13: Tyler Bey hits a floater, his first field goal
• MAGNOLIA 18-13: Calvin Abueva blocks Bennie Boatwright
• MAGNOLIA 18-13: Mark Barroca keeps going, sinks his 8th point off a floater
• MAGNOLIA 16-13: Controversial Calvin Abueva and Mo Tautuaa check in at the same time with 3:28 left
• MAGNOLIA 16-13: Bennie Boatwright gets on the board for two
• MAGNOLIA 16-11: Rome dela Rosa with Magnolia’s 4th steal, Paul Lee scores his first three
• MAGNOLIA 13-11: CJ Perez quick response layup
• MAGNOLIA 13-9: Ian Sangalang with an easy layup off a bullet Jio Jalalon pass inside
• 9-9: Tyler Bey gets on the board, splits his charities
• SAN MIGUEL 9-8: June Mar Fajardo squares up for a mid-range jumper
• MAGNOLIA 8-7: Mark Barroca with another layup for his 6th point
• SAN MIGUEL 7-6: CJ Perez with a quick response three from the left wing
• MAGNOLIA 6-4: Jio Jalalon sinks step-back, mid-range shot
• 4-4: June Mar Fajardo scores two from the line
• MAGNOLIA 4-2: CJ Perez coast-to-coast layup
• MAGNOLIA 4-0: Jio Jalalon steal, Mark Barroca floater
• MAGNOLIA 2-0: Mark Barroca strips CJ Perez and scores inside

Starting lineups

SAN MIGUEL: Chris Ross, CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, Bennie Boatwright, June Mar Fajardo

MAGNOLIA: Jio Jalalon, Mark Barroca, Tyler Bey, Rome dela Rosa, Ian Sangalang

PBA | WATCH:

"Baka i-ban ulit kita."

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial issues a stern warning to controversial star Calvin Abueva that a repeat ban or suspension is coming if he continues his off-court antics.

Abueva went through a 16-month ban from 2019 to 2021.#PBAFinals pic.twitter.com/SeuxpHu7FQ

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) February 7, 2024

Game Preview

What was shaping up to be a rather one-sided PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals just got a whole lot more color.

Following a convincing 109-85 finals Game 2 rout last Sunday, February 4, mighty San Miguel is entering Game 3 on Wednesday, February 7, with red-hot momentum to go up 3-0 in the best-of-seven series against Magnolia.

As if they needed more motivation, the Beermen are likely even more stoked to hand down a fresh beatdown after controversial Hotshots star Calvin Abueva figured in another string of extracurricular tussles with San Miguel head coach Jorge Gallent and reserve big man Mo Tautuaa and his family.

Although now P100,000 poorer after getting fined for mocking Gallent’s visual impairment, Abueva is saved from a crucial Game 3 suspension, while Tautuaa likewise gets nothing but a warning after answering league summons.

Back to basketball matters, the Hotshots are now looking for a much-needed explosion from star guard Paul Lee, who has been held to single-digit scoring in both finals games so far, while the likes of import Tyler Bey and star locals Abueva, Mark Barroca, and Jio Jalalon continue to hold down the fort.

San Miguel, meanwhile, will look to set a new franchise-high of 12 straight wins under the unrelenting firepower of Best Import frontrunner Bennie Boatwright, seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, Best Player of the Conference candidate CJ Perez, and a battalion of more stars right behind them.

Game tip-off is at 7:30 pm at the Araneta Coliseum. – Rappler.com